Whether you’re installing a small sprinkler system for your lawn or a complex industrial irrigation system for a commercial farming operation, you need to do the wiring correctly the first time to avoid costly damages. Use this blog as a guide for all you need to know about sprinkler wiring and how the sprinkler system wiring color code works to avoid potential hazards associated with short circuits and electrical fires. Understanding The Sprinkler System Wire Color Code Your sprinkler system is more than just a series of pipes and valves–it also consists of electrical wires that control the valves. These wires need to be connected properly to keep the system working effectively and avoid potential hazards. Most sprinkler wiring systems consist of seven strands of wires, denoted as brown, orange, green, red, yellow, blue, black and along with one common white wire. The number of wires will depend on the number of valves you have in your sprinkler system. While a seven plus one common wire strand is the standard, you can add in another wire in case you are looking to add another water feature or valve in the future. Generally, the color code in a sprinkler wire system, start from brown, which is station number one. Brown is followed by red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and gray for stations two through eight. Note that not all irrigation units support all eight stations. The number of colors you select when installing your sprinkler system will depend on the number of stations it can support. If the system supports more than eight stations, you will need to use two-toned cables (e.g., white and black). In most cases, sprinkler systems require you to attach each station number with a common cable with a white wire. Systems that use master valves use a black cable as their common wire. Others use a combination of white and orange wires. If your sprinkler system doesn’t come with color-coded cables, you can use whatever colors you’d like. However, your colors must be used per the National Electric Code wiring color code. The most common sizes of irrigation system wires are between sixteen and eighteen American Wire Gauge (AWG). How To Wire A Sprinkler System Here we’ll teach you the basics on how to wire your sprinkler system and identify the purpose of each wire. Use The Correct Wire: Sprinkler valve wiring doesnt have to be complex if you abide by a few rules and common logic. Firstly, to avoid any future problems, buy an approved direct bury wire that is specifically designed for sprinkler systems. This is highly recommended considering that if you’re using a wire that is not rated for direct burial it will hold up for less than 2 years. So, if you’re installing a new sprinkler system, it’s best to look around before you settle on a durable, long-lasting, suited-for direct burial wiring system. The Sprinkler Wire Color Code The colors of individual wiring are not solely for decorative purposes but each colored wire is used to distinguish different zones from the valve. While there isn’t any specific color code to follow for an irrigation sprinkler system, it is a wise choice to follow a pattern. For starters, the common (negative) wire is generally white while the first zone is typically red, followed by other colors. If you follow a general wire color scheme, it will be helpful to manage your valves accordingly. Remember that each sprinkler wire needs to have more than one wire than the number of zones being installed. This allows you to safely install an additional valve with ease without rewiring your entire sprinkler system. Wire the Valves Accordingly As you begin to wire valves, the first thing is to select a wire from each valve and connect it to the common wire. After the connection is established between the white (negative) wire, you will be left with one wire for each valve. With the remaining wiring, connect the remaining valves to ensure connection. If you find yourself stuck, take a reference from the example below to establish proper wiring. Use Grease Packs Or Nuts As the entire wiring system is buried underground, it’s effective to use grease nuts or packs to coat the wiring as front-line defense against moisture. While grease nuts are more common, it’s ideally better to invest in grease packs to ensure high resistance against moisture. Set Up Your Wiring Sprinkler Timer Once you have effectively learned how to wire a sprinkler system, you can move on to setting the sprinkler clock. Connect the common or white wire to the “Com”, “C” or “Common”, slot, and connect the colored coded wires to the corresponding valve zone. Don't Touch The Wires Once you have connected the wires to the timer or controller, do not touch them to verify if they have current flowing through them. Use a voltage tester instead while wearing safety protective equipment to ensure you have completed wiring your irrigation sprinkler system correctly. FAQ’s What is the common wire on a sprinkler system? Generally, the common or negative wire is white and runs separately from your controller to your master cylinder and then every other valve in your irrigation system. If your white wire is disconnected or cut off, then every valve in your sprinkler system will fail to turn or spray water when activated. How many wires for a sprinkler system? The number of wires depends on the number of valves your irrigation system has. Supposedly your irrigation sprinkler system has over 6 valves, then a white common wire and an additional seven wires is the number of wires you need for your sprinkler system. This is because you need to have at least one more wire than the number of zones being installed. Is it important to wire your sprinkler system correctly? Using a non-burial wire, or a wire that is not resistant to moisture can damage the sprinkler system causing expensive repairs to make your irrigation system function properly. What is the black wire in a sprinkler system? Every sprinkler wire system has a common wire which connects the solenoids, the black wire is best suited for this job as it’s categorized as the hot wire. The common wire can also be white depending on the choice of sprinkler wire you have. How are sprinklers wired? Every valve has a solenoid, which ensures electrical connection through two wires- the common and zone wire. The common wire is distinguished with the color white but it can be black as well, as long as it is connected to the common slot in the sprinkler system timer or clock. It’s highly important for the common wire to be connected to every zone to ensure connection for the valves to turn. Similar Questions What is an Electrical Panel Color Code? Which Color Wire is Live and Which is Neutral? Can Exposed Wires Cause a Fire? Is Green Wire Live or Neutral? What to Do if an Outlet Catches Fire? Why Are Electrical Wires Different Colors? What Do Different Wire Colors Mean? How do I Use Electrical Wire Connectors? What are Electrical Wire Safety Basics? Additional Resources Neutral Wire Color Electrical Wiring (Wire Color Codes) Electrical Wire Colors ANSI Color Codes for Pipe Marking Selecting a Marker Size for Wire Marking

Everything You Need to Know About Sprinkler Wiring

What is the Sprinkler System Wire Color Code?

Electrical Safety

Whether you’re installing a small sprinkler system for your lawn or a complex industrial irrigation system for a commercial farming operation, you need to do the wiring correctly the first time to avoid costly damages.

Use this blog as a guide for all you need to know about sprinkler wiring and how the sprinkler system wiring color code works to avoid potential hazards associated with short circuits and electrical fires.

Understanding The Sprinkler System Wire Color Code

Your sprinkler system is more than just a series of pipes and valves–it also consists of electrical wires that control the valves. These wires need to be connected properly to keep the system working effectively and avoid potential hazards.

Most sprinkler wiring systems consist of seven strands of wires, denoted as brown, orange, green, red, yellow, blue, black and along with one common white wire. The number of wires will depend on the number of valves you have in your sprinkler system. While a seven plus one common wire strand is the standard, you can add in another wire in case you are looking to add another water feature or valve in the future.

Generally, the color code in a sprinkler wire system, start from brown, which is station number one. Brown is followed by red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and gray for stations two through eight. Note that not all irrigation units support all eight stations.

The number of colors you select when installing your sprinkler system will depend on the number of stations it can support. If the system supports more than eight stations, you will need to use two-toned cables (e.g., white and black).

In most cases, sprinkler systems require you to attach each station number with a common cable with a white wire. Systems that use master valves use a black cable as their common wire. Others use a combination of white and orange wires.

If your sprinkler system doesn’t come with color-coded cables, you can use whatever colors you’d like. However, your colors must be used per the National Electric Code wiring color code. The most common sizes of irrigation system wires are between sixteen and eighteen American Wire Gauge (AWG).

How To Wire A Sprinkler System

Here we’ll teach you the basics on how to wire your sprinkler system and identify the purpose of each wire.

Use The Correct Wire:

Sprinkler valve wiring doesnt have to be complex if you abide by a few rules and common logic. Firstly, to avoid any future problems, buy an approved direct bury wire that is specifically designed for sprinkler systems. This is highly recommended considering that if you’re using a wire that is not rated for direct burial it will hold up for less than 2 years. So, if you’re installing a new sprinkler system, it’s best to look around before you settle on a durable, long-lasting, suited-for direct burial wiring system.
The Sprinkler Wire Color Code

The colors of individual wiring are not solely for decorative purposes but each colored wire is used to distinguish different zones from the valve. While there isn’t any specific color code to follow for an irrigation sprinkler system, it is a wise choice to follow a pattern. For starters, the common (negative) wire is generally white while the first zone is typically red, followed by other colors. If you follow a general wire color scheme, it will be helpful to manage your valves accordingly.

Remember that each sprinkler wire needs to have more than one wire than the number of zones being installed. This allows you to safely install an additional valve with ease without rewiring your entire sprinkler system.
Wire the Valves Accordingly

As you begin to wire valves, the first thing is to select a wire from each valve and connect it to the common wire. After the connection is established between the white (negative) wire, you will be left with one wire for each valve. With the remaining wiring, connect the remaining valves to ensure connection. If you find yourself stuck, take a reference from the example below to establish proper wiring.
Use Grease Packs Or Nuts

As the entire wiring system is buried underground, it’s effective to use grease nuts or packs to coat the wiring as front-line defense against moisture. While grease nuts are more common, it’s ideally better to invest in grease packs to ensure high resistance against moisture.
Set Up Your Wiring Sprinkler Timer

Once you have effectively learned how to wire a sprinkler system, you can move on to setting the sprinkler clock. Connect the common or white wire to the “Com”, “C” or “Common”, slot, and connect the colored coded wires to the corresponding valve zone.
Don't Touch The Wires

Once you have connected the wires to the timer or controller, do not touch them to verify if they have current flowing through them. Use a voltage tester instead while wearing safety protective equipment to ensure you have completed wiring your irrigation sprinkler system correctly.

FAQ’s

What is the common wire on a sprinkler system?

Generally, the common or negative wire is white and runs separately from your controller to your master cylinder and then every other valve in your irrigation system. If your white wire is disconnected or cut off, then every valve in your sprinkler system will fail to turn or spray water when activated.

How many wires for a sprinkler system?

The number of wires depends on the number of valves your irrigation system has. Supposedly your irrigation sprinkler system has over 6 valves, then a white common wire and an additional seven wires is the number of wires you need for your sprinkler system. This is because you need to have at least one more wire than the number of zones being installed.

Is it important to wire your sprinkler system correctly?

Using a non-burial wire, or a wire that is not resistant to moisture can damage the sprinkler system causing expensive repairs to make your irrigation system function properly.

What is the black wire in a sprinkler system?

Every sprinkler wire system has a common wire which connects the solenoids, the black wire is best suited for this job as it’s categorized as the hot wire. The common wire can also be white depending on the choice of sprinkler wire you have.

How are sprinklers wired?

Every valve has a solenoid, which ensures electrical connection through two wires- the common and zone wire. The common wire is distinguished with the color white but it can be black as well, as long as it is connected to the common slot in the sprinkler system timer or clock. It’s highly important for the common wire to be connected to every zone to ensure connection for the valves to turn.